Governments increasingly encourage people to prepare for emergencies. We are advised to think about what we would do if electricity supplies failed, water became unavailable, communications were interrupted, or we had to leave our homes unexpectedly.
When Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, he offered one of the most remarkable prayers recorded in Scripture. His words in 1 Kings 8 look backward to God's promises, address the immediate spiritual needs of Israel, and also look forward to a much greater purpose.
The word disciple is familiar to anyone who reads the New Testament. We often speak of "the disciples" as though the word refers only to the twelve men who accompanied Jesus during his ministry.
But the Bible uses the word much more widely.
Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given to His people.
When most people hear the words “Tomb of the First Emperor of China”, they immediately think of one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries ever made: the Terracotta Army.
In a world containing thousands of religions, denominations, philosophies and competing ideas about God, one of the most important questions we can ask is surprisingly simple:
Does it matter what we believe?
Israel is a comparatively small nation. Its land occupies only a tiny part of the earth’s surface, and its population is small compared with many of the great nations of the world. Yet throughout history Israel has occupied a remarkable place in world affairs.
The promises which God made to Abraham are among the most important teachings in the whole Bible.
There are few questions more important than this: where do we obtain truth?
The word “devil” immediately brings strong images to mind. For many people, it suggests a supernatural enemy of God: a fallen angel, a horned tempter, or a dark spiritual power working behind the scenes of human life. These ideas are deeply embedded in religious art, popular culture, and traditional theology.
